...too, re: invading their privacy. Our dogs never give us any trouble about paws, mouths, and such.

Lol! I've done that; stick my finger into a dogs mouth when they yawn. Usually, it stops the yawn, and they kind of smack their mouths once or twice afterwards, and yes, I have gotten that look, lol!

I have always loved horses. Dh, not so much. He only knew city stable horses, and had a close call with one. Also, his grandfather was killed by a horse. So, he's not a fan.

Have you ever read about T-touch? That's my favorite massage for critters. It has always yielded immediate results.

Yes, if done correctly, they do love it. Even my FF cats do.